Stater Bros. sued its former directors.

The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against former Stater Chairman Bernard R. Garrett and certain former directors stems from a bitter proxy contest last year that ousted a slate of directors backed by Garrett and elected directors backed by current Chairman Jack H. Brown. The suit charges Garrett and his associates with, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, the alleged wrongful dismissal of Brown and the alleged misuse of corporate funds. Garrett denied the charges and said he is filing a countersuit on top of others he has filed against Brown and his associates.